Man Sues NBC for $2.5 million

ZTAngel · #1 01-06-2005, 01:28 PM

You have GOT to be kidding me! What the hell is wrong with these sue-happy people?!

NBC's 'Fear Factor' Sued for Rat-Eating Episode
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...evision_rat_dc

Wed Jan 5, 4:03 PM ET Entertainment - Reuters TV

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Watching contestants eat dead rats on NBC's gross-out stunt show "Fear Factor" so disgusted a Cleveland man that he has sued NBC for $2.5 million, saying he could not stomach what he saw.

In a handwritten four-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Cleveland on Tuesday, paralegal Austin Aitken said, "To have the individuals on the show eat (yes) and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer's point of view made me throw-up as well an another in the house at the same time."

His suit added, "NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning (sic) and in most cases against their will."

He said the show caused his blood pressure to rise so high that he became dizzy and light-headed, and when he ran away to his room, he bumped his head into the doorway.

In a brief telephone interview with Reuters, Aitken said, "I am not at liberty to discuss the complaint unless it is a paid-interview situation."

A spokesman for "Fear Factor" said the show would have no comment until it sees a copy of the complaint. The spokesman said the program did feature an rat-eating scene in New York's Times Square on Nov. 8.

Over the years, contestants on the program have eaten some weird things, including ground-up spiders and live worms.

Reuters/VNU

moe.ron · #2 01-06-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Watching contestants eat dead rats on NBC's gross-out stunt show "Fear Factor" so disgusted a Cleveland man that he has sued NBC for $2.5 million, saying he could not stomach what he saw.

He ever thought about changing the channel? Or how about turning off the tv and go read a book?

ZTAngel · #3 01-06-2005, 01:39 PM

Duh...it's Fear Factor. People know that they're probably going to see something nasty. If you're one of those people who can't stomach it (I'm one of them), then just don't watch it. Simple as that.

My favorite part is when he said he wouldn't discuss the complaint unless it's in a paid-interview situation.

Another highlight is, "He said the show caused his blood pressure to rise so high that he became dizzy and light-headed, and when he ran away to his room, he bumped his head into the doorway."

What a toolbag......

moe.ron · #4 01-06-2005, 01:42 PM

No kidding. Fear Factor should tell you something about the show. That is like going to see Chainsaw Massacre and getting offended at all the killing.

Peaches-n-Cream · #5 01-06-2005, 02:05 PM

I should sue them, too. I could use $2.5 million.

I watched that show once, and it was disgusting. They ate a huge testicle, no joke. Gross!

KSigkid · #6 01-06-2005, 02:31 PM

That is HILARIOUS. He hand-wrote the complaint, then said he would only comment in a paid interview? One of the funniest things I've ever heard.

Coramoor · #7 01-06-2005, 06:32 PM

I like law suits like this. The more ridiculous the better. The way I see it, maybe one day people will get fed up with it and decide to overhaul the entire system.

valkyrie · #8 01-06-2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
That is HILARIOUS. He hand-wrote the complaint, then said he would only comment in a paid interview? One of the funniest things I've ever heard.

That is hilarious.

One of the best things about clerking for a judge was reading the court papers of crazy litigants. There was one guy who used to file endless pleadings alleging that my judge's wife was involved in some vast, evil conspiracy with the Honorable Richard A. Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, who was in reality some type of underworld figure.

I don't think anything beats the story my Judge told about a guy who was representing himself in court and actually running back and forth from the attorney podium to the witness stand. After the other attorney objected to one of the questions he asked himself, he actually asked the court reporter to read back his own question to him. Crazy people in court are awesome.

smiley21 · #9 01-06-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
I should sue them, too. I could use $2.5 million.

I watched that show once, and it was disgusting. They ate a huge testicle, no joke. Gross!

i saw that episode. i saw one recently where they had to eat pig's rectum....that is so wrong

this guy is an idiot. my favorite part is when the guy said he bumped his head on the door cause he was feeling light headed and needed to leave the room. you honestly think that this is going to fly?!

KSig RC · #10 01-07-2005, 11:22 AM

I also dig how he's supposedly a paralegal, but made up words and hand-wrote a sworn legal document.

Hilarious.

As for Coramoor - I think you're misguided about "the system" . . . unless you really think that the McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit was over something trivial? It's not the system - the concept is nearly perfect, it's human error (read: retards in charge) that jack it up.

AlphaGamDiva · #11 01-08-2005, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
His suit added, "NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning.........Aitken said, "I am not at liberty to discuss the complaint unless it is a paid-interview situation."

yep, cash will def make ya do some wacko things.

idiot.

RUgreek · #12 01-08-2005, 01:23 AM

quick question, did NBC air this story too? Otherwise this is a great marketing campaign for the show...

How much do you get for eating a rat? Cooked or uncooked?

mmcat · #13 01-09-2005, 09:26 AM

you suppose they maybe added a little barbecue sauce?
this guy is such a tool.
just change the channel, dude.